Duck decoy support



Jan. 6, 1953 H. G. BEVERMAN 2,624,144

DUCK DECOY SUPPORT Filed April l5, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. 74?/'C/ HAQQY @.BEVEQMAN Jan. 6, 1953 H. G. BEVERMAN 2,524,144

DUCK DECOY SUPPORT Filed April 15, 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Patented Jan.6, 1953 DUCK DECOY SUPPORT Lincoln, Ill., assignor to Harry G. Beverman,

Pearl Beverman, Lincoln,

Ill., and F. G. Whiteside, Springfield, Ill., jointly Application April15, 1949, serial No. 87,655

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a folding decoy device, and more particularlyto a folding decoy-arranging device for floating decoys.

It is an object of this invention to provide a decoy-arranging device ofthe kind to be more particularly described hereinafter for securing aplurality of floating decoys to a common supporting member with thedecoys in a oating, widelyspaced-apart arrangement, the device beingfold-. able about a common support to provide a compact arrangement ofthe decoy-supporting means forvcarrying and storing in a limited space,as for transportation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a decoy-supporting andarranging device having quickly and easily-removable decoys attachedthereto, the supporting device being immediately extensible to -afully-extended position when left buoyant in the water, andgravitationally retractible upon removal fro-m the water.

A further object of this invention is to provide adecoy device of thiskind which is normally positioned below the surface of the water to beconcealed thereby and supported in its concealed position by thefloating decoys fastened thereto. The device, being buoyantly supported,may be readily moved about in the water, and as the decoys are securedto the device by flexible connectingmeans, the decoys will trail themovement of the device in a lifelike, milling manner.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a decoy device ofthis kind enabling the set-` tingvout of six decoys in the same shorttime ordinarily required for one.V The same `saving of time is realizedin gathering up the decoys when the hunter is ready to leave. The use ofa device of this kind eliminates the discomfort of having towrap cold,Wet cords about the decoys when removing them from the water. This isthe type of chore every hunter would like to avoid and is adequatelyprovided for in the structure of this folding decoy-supporting andarranging device.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan View of a folding decoysupporting and arrangingdevice, constructed according to an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3l is a fragmentary `vertical section, taken onrthe line-3/3 ofFigure l;

Figure '4 is' a fragmentary horizontal section, I

porting and arranging supporting member I I which is formed as a hollowThousingV open at the oppositel ends thereof.

in a vertical position,

angularly related planes.

Theside Walls I2, I4, open ended multi-sided housing I I and the centralsupporting member for the decoy-supporting and arranging device.` I5 andI6 is formed with a longitudinal elongated opening I1. The'openings I'Iare disposed in a vertically-extending position on one side edge of eachof the walls to provlde room for the swinging y of the decoy-supportingrods, to be described hereinafter.

As the housing II is formed, in the drawings, of I'I are on one side I'Iwill be disposed four side walls, as the openings edge of the walls, anopening at each of the corners .of the housing. A bail I8 is pivotallymounted on the upper edges of a pair of opposed'walls, as the walls I5and I6. The

bail I8 may be made of wire or other suitablev formed at the opposite`ends thereof which are engageable in openings of the sidewalls for-rmaterial having eyes I9 adjacent the upper edges pivotally securing theopposite ends of the bail I8 therein. The bail ing for movement from itsextended position to the'adjacent side of the'f` a position parallel tohousing. Specically, a plurality of elongated, rigid supporting membersor rods 20, 2l, 22 and 24 are pivotally connected within the housing I Iand extend through the openings VII in each of the side walls I4, I6, I2and I5, respectively. Each partly brokenaway I of the decoy-supportingand its retracted or folded posiwhich may be folded.

from and extended oating position to a comj pact retracted or foldedposition. The decoy-sup- 4 device comprises a central The housing I I isadapted to be supported in the water with the bottom and top being open,the side walls being -disposed in right- I5 and I6 constitute the.

Each of the side Walls I2, I4,

I8 provides a suitable carrying' p handle for the decoy-supporting andarrangingl open ended multi-sided' of the rigid supporting rods isformed with an inner end which is bent at right angles to the majorlength of the rod, which extends from the housing II. The extreme innerends of the rods and also the inner end of the right-angularly formedsection, as the section 25 on the upper end of the rod 24 are formedwith an eye, as the eye 23, for engagement with a mounted within `thehousing I I. rods 28, 2l, 22 and 24 is formed in substantially pivot pinfrictionally As each of theV the same manner with a right-angularlyformed inner end or arm 25, a full description of one of i the rods andarm 25 will be applicable to eachof the other rods. Y y

A pair of pivot pins 2l' and` 2areiixedibej tween opposite side walls ofthe housing i l. The

pin 21 is engaged between the side walls i24 and I4, while the pivot pin28 is ixedfbetween the side walls I6 and I5. i 28 is free and separatefrom the. other pin and as ,the pins would intersecteach otherwithin thehousing II, if they were disposedV inthe same Each of the pins 2l and 1plane, oneof the pins, such asthepin 28,.is

mountejdlbetween the walls iandij above the pin..,2 1. A. closefittingbushing or sleeve' 2i)Y isV loosely disposed about the ing II andasimilarbushing 39 is disposed about thepin ,2 7'.' within the Yhousingbelow the bushing or s leeve29. The sleeves 2S and 33 are of a lengthslightly less than the distance'between the oppoe pin 23 vwithin thelionssite side Wallsfbetw'eenwhich they vare to be engaged to provideforthe disposition of the eyes 26 Yat theV opposite ends,thereofbetweentheends of the sleeves andthe inner surfaces of thefside walls.

The short arms of theelongatedsupporting rodsZI, 20,22 and 24, areiofalength `slightly greater than the distance 25 on theinnerendofeachbetween the'hinge pins 28`andY the respective side f walls on Y the.Opposite sides thereof, yso thatthe supportingrrods maybe pivoted onYthe pins from apo'sition parallel to the adjacent side ofthe Y' housingto itsvextended position. L

Certain'.lofjthe'supporting rods, astheirodslZi andv124, are formed witha loop, intermediate the length thereof to as vthe loop 3 I,

which a decoy,

asA the; decoys` 32, may b e looselyengagedj' Eachj of the rods orsupporting members is formed with an eyev 34 at the extreme attachmentof a decoy.

Thej floating decoyfsupporting andfarranging y provided for'attachmentto a plurality Yj and buoyant decoys 32 and isaidapted device IllJis of,floating i to bev supportedbythe decoys inthe extended position of thesuppOrtingdevCe. A flexibleelement or end member, as the chainV- 35, isiixed at one to ,eachof the eyes l3l and of each of the Vouter endthereof ,for

supporting'rods and' a resilient, releasable fasten" ,y

ing`,ele1nent, `asjthe element 33, vis fixed to or carried by .theextreme other or free endvof thel flexible connecting member 35. Each ofthe decoys 32l is provided with a loop hool138, onrthelbottom thereof,with which the releasable fastening member 36 mayfbe engaged. i foldingdecoy# In the use and operation vof the suDpQrting andarranging/device,the elongated supportingrods 2e, 2122`and 24 are initially dise` posedin a Vretracted position, as the position` shown in Figure 5 of thedrawings. tracted position the arms 25,

In the' re'-V are disposed in, a

or hook, as the` substantially horizontal position extending out- Wardlyfrom the pivot pins Z'ijand 28.* The major ylength of the supportingrodsiwill Vbe exj tended* ina vertical lposition ldepending from thehousing II in ajcompact, overlying rela 'on toj.

Y so .that the inner, arms 25 will be 15 Yof the. Water TheLentiredevicev I irmay be kmoved froinjonepo- .position parallel, with vthepairof side walls, said second pairAY of sidewallsv i Y pin extendingvofthev decoy elements 32 will extend the arms 20, 2I, 22A and 24 abouttheir respective pivot pins, disposed in a vertically-arranged position,as clearly shown in Figure; andthe major length of the rods will bedisposed in a horizontal position. The arms and Vbody-or housing I I arepreferably formed of metal or-other suitable material which is notbuoyant and will sink below the surface of the water.k A s the decoys 32areof a suitablebuoyant characteristic, thedecoy-snpporting and arrangeing device I'will be Supported below'rthersurface int a substantially`concealedl p osistion to another'v by engaging ,ai suitable' flexible.

towing4 memberflii tothe bail I8 for moving 'the entire4 extendedYdevice VI l) l "from v one kposition in the water toanother.AlAsthedrods 2Q; 2|, 22,and

ent number@ decoy elenierlts:` 32V supported ,0.11.

each of the rods, the movement :of theentiredevice fv villeflect.themilling movement.ofthejdecoy elements Embout the Center, .0f the.central sup,- porting member I I ina normal,substantial1ylifelike'marmer es@ .plurality 0f @111.635, Q1". other water fowl.

rf tneqevice le is desired tsbejpiaeeirl anges 4 position, annanchormaybe 'connectedf tothe `towing,` member vSSjancl lthe movement., ofthewater about the anchoredf decoy elements SZfWillgix/ e the'appearanceo'ffa about in the Water.Y

Ido not mean toV conne myselfl to the'Y exarztfdefft` tails'of,construction'herein disclosed, vbu'tjclairnV appended claims.:

VIclairn:v `v1 f 1'; A-foldablejsupportingjand arranging devicecomprising a rstpairlof side' Wallsarranged'in relation, a first pin QextendingY pairof side ,wallsf inte'r-V mediate thejends of the latterand fixedly. securedv I to 'said Dllbf `Sfide,'wa1ls',"a firstbus'hinggloosely vcircumpofsed aboutsaid pin,l "said bushinghav-f.y

parallel, 1 Spa'd tfanslerselybetweensaid ing each end spaced fromtheadja'centl one', of- Y side walls' a rod extending.trans` verselythroughial Wallof a second paiifoffside K. walls Vand havingonefendinterposed in thespae said pair of betweenthe adjacent end oftion ofjsaid pindene'd .by said space formove.-

ment from its extendedftransverse position tota@ adjacent J011e-VOf'lsaid.

being arranged in Q parallel tioned transversely'of and ofV side wallsand secured between said first pair Y Y to theflattenl a second'transversely between pair of.. sideV walls intermediate ,theendsqofpthe latter and `xedly secured to .saidsecond pair. of sidewalls,said'second Apinrbeingr spaced from, said rst pin, asecondbushingloosely circumposed ,pluralityY of ducksA milling v Y Ysaid'bushing andoneV` of said iirstside walls'and connected tov tbeporf.

spaced relation posi- Said- Second` ing each end spaced from theadjacent one of said second pair of side walls, a rod extendingtransversely through each wall ci said first pair of side walls andhaving one end interposed in the space between the adjacent end of saidsecond bushing and one wall of said second pair of side walls andconnected to the portion of said second pin defined by the last namedspace for Inovement from its extended transverse position to a positionparallel with the adjacent one of said second pair of side walls, andmeans on the other end of each of said rods for attachment of a decoythereto.

2. A foldable supporting and arranging device comprising a first pair ofside walls arranged in parallel spaced relation, a first pin extendingtransversely between said pair of side walls intermediate the ends ofthe latter and xedly secured to said pair of side walls, a first bushingloosely circumposed about said pin, said bushing having each end spacedfrom the adjacent one of said pair of side walls, a rod extendingtransversely through a wall of a second pair of side walls and havingone end interposed in the space between the adjacent end of said bushingand one of said rst side walls and connected to the portion of said pindened by said space for moveinent from its extended transverse positionto a position parallel with the adjacent one of said pair of side walls,said second pair of side walls being arranged in parallel spacedrelation positioned transversely of and between said rst pair of sidewalls and secured to the latter, a second pin extending transverselybetween said second pair oi side walls intermediate the ends of thelatter and fixedly secured to said second pair of side walls, saidsecond pin being spaced from said iirst pin, a second bushing looselycircurnposed about said second pin, said second bushing having each endspaced from the adjacent one of said second pair cf side walls, a rodextending transversely through leach wall of said rst pair of side wallsand having one end interposed in the space between the adjacent end ofsaid second bushing and one wall of said second pair of side walls andconnected to the portion of said second pin defined by the last namespace for movement from its extended transverse position to apositionparallel with the adjacent one of said second pair of sideWalls, means on the other end of each of said rods for attachment of adecoy thereto, and a second means on at least two of said rods andspaced from said iirst named means for attachment of a further decoythereto.

3. A foldable supporting and arranging device comprising a rst pair ofside walls arranged in parallel spaced relation, a rst pin extendingtransversely between said pair of side walls intermediate the ends ofthe latter and xedly secured to said pair of side walls, a rst bushingloosely circurnposed about said pin, said bushing having each end spacedfrom the adjacent one of said pair of side walls, a rod extendingtransversely through a wall of a second pair of side walls and havingone end interposed in the space between the adjacent end of said bushingand one `of said first side walls and connected to the portion of saidpin dened by said space for movement from its extended transverseposition to a position parallel with the adjacent one of said pair ofside walls, said second pair of side walls being arranged in parallelspaced relation positioned transversely of and between said rst pair ofside walls and secured to the latter, a second pin extendingtransversely between said second pair of side walls intermediate theends of the latter and xedly secured to said second pair of side walls,said second pin being spaced from said first pin, a second bushingloosely circumposed about said second pin, said second bushing havingeach end spaced from the adjacent one of said second pair of side walls,a rod extending transversely through each wall of said rst pair of sidewalls and having one end interposed in the space Ibetween the adjacentend of said second bushing and one wall of said second pair of sidewalls and connected to the portion of said second pin defined by thelast named space for movement from its extended transverse position to aposition parallel with the adjacent one of said second pair of sideWalls, an eye on the other end of each of said rods for attachment of adecoy thereto, and a loop on at least two of said rods and spaced fromsaid eye for attachment of a further decoy thereto.

HARRY G. BEVERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 30,069 Lamb Sept. 18, 1860244,038 Dana July 12, 1881 481,942 Foster Sept. 6, 1892 '710,433 CoudonOct. '7, 1902 970,003 Wethall Sept. 13, 1910 1,329,985 McNaughton Feb.3, 1920 1,424,564 Goldsmith Aug. 1, 1922 1,490,650 Wagner Apr. 15, 19242,469,494 Bushko May 10, 1949

